Service difficulty report · Bearing · Snias AS350B2

Difficulty date
October 20, 2010
Submitted
December 20, 2010
Operation
Air carrier
Aircraft
N123LN
Make and model
Snias AS350B2
Aircraft serial
4115
Aircraft time
1,195 hours
Engine
Tmeca ARRIEL1D1
Engine time
1,195 hours
Part
Bearing
Part number
9609000562
Part serial
2666
Condition
Failed
Location
Engine
Part time
93 hours, 230 cycles
Stage of operation
AA
How discovered
O
Nature of condition
B, F, J
Precautionary procedure
E, B, A

As reported to the FAA. Reports are unverified, and codes are left as the FAA publishes them.

What was found

FOLLOWING ACFT REFUELING, ENROUTE BACK TO HOME BASE. APPROX 12 MINUTES INTO FLT, "ENG CHIP" CAUTION WARNING PANEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IMMEDIATE CHECK OF ENGINE INSTRUMENTS INDICATED NORMAL OPERATING RANGE. COURSE REVERSED TO OPEN AREA & EXPEDITED DESCENT INITIATED TO BEGIN APPROACH. ALL INSTRUMENTS WERE STILL WITHIN NORMAL OPS LIMITS & NO WARNING LIGHTS IN ADDITION TO "ENG CHIP" LIGHT. AT APPROX 200' AGL A LOUD "BANG" WAS HEARD, THAT SEEMED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE AREA, AND A SHARP YAW IN ACFT EXPERIENCE. UPON HEARING BANG & FEELING ACFT YAW, ENTERED AN AUTOROTATIVE PROFILE TOWARD OPEN FIELD. ALSO NOTICED A STRONG "BURNING" ODOR. AT APPROX 65' AGL, FLT PARAMEDIC INFORMED STATED "WE ARE ON FIRE". TERMINATED APPROACH & IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED ONBOARD FIRE PROCEDURES, SHUTDOWN BOTH FUEL LEVERS & MOTORING STARTER WITH "CRANK" BUTTON. A "FIRE" CAUTION PANEL LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED, NOR WAS THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER USED ON THE ACFT.